Detachable inking device for a flexographic printing machine, its embodiment, cleaning and use in such a machine

Abstract

A detachable inking device for a flexographic printing machine, a manipulating device for removing and replacing the inking device, a cleaning device, and a repair station for refurbishing the inking device. The inking device itself is a chambered doctor blade ( 9 ) mounted on two lever-supports ( 13, 14 ) through which ink is supplied from a reservoir. The lever-supports are rigidly attached to a shaft ( 11 ) which is pivotable between the frames ( 34 ) of the flexographic printing machine. The chambered doctor blade has a body ( 25 ) made of light material, crossed at one of its ends by a tube ( 26 ) emerging from the bottom ( 28 ) of body ( 25 ), and at the other end by a tube ( 40 ) having its opening part ( 29 ) at level with the bottom ( 28 ) of the body ( 25 ). The latter rests on seals ( 38, 39 ) secured to the lever-supports ( 13, 14 ) to which are attached centering and fixing means ( 17, 18 ) allowing a quick loosening of the chambered doctor blade ( 9 ) without the help of any tool. The body ( 25 ) comprises two planar outwardly slanted projecting parts against which are adhesively attached two doctor blades elements. The doctor blade elements are also held at their ends by a supporting piece ( 21 ) having two supporting flanges ( 35, 36 ) that engage the ends of the doctor blade elements ( 19, 20 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A detachable inking device for a flexographic printing machine comprising: 
       a chambered doctor blade; and  
       a support assembly for detachably supporting the chambered doctor blade,  
       the support assembly being movable to bring the chambered doctor blade into and out of engagement with a screen roll on the printing machine;  
       the chambered doctor blade being comprised of:  
       a light-weight body having first and second ends, the body being elongated in the direction of a rotational axis of the screen roll;  
       an end piece detachably secured at each end of the body;  
       upper and lower lip portions projecting outwardly from the body, and extending the length of the body, each lip portion having a planar end face; and  
       first and second doctor blade elements adhesively attached respectively to the end faces of the upper and lower lip portions,  
       whereby the body, the end pieces and the doctor blade elements form an inking chamber for the screen roll,  
       said support assembly being comprised of: 
       first and second mounting arms supported on a shaft that is mounted on the frame of the printing machine, the shaft being pivotable to move the chambered doctor blade into and out of engagement with the screen roll; and  
       first and second disconnect mechanisms located respectively on each of the mounting arms, and which are manually operable without assistance of a tool to release the chambered doctor blade from the support assembly.  
     
     
       2. A detachable inking device as described in  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the first support arm further includes an ink inlet passage which terminates in a fitting connectable to an inlet line from an ink reservoir;  
       the second support arm further includes an ink outlet passage which terminates in a fitting connectable respectively to a return line to the ink reservoir;  
       the chambered doctor blade body includes first and second passages respectively aligned with the ink inlet and outlet passages in the support arms, and which open into the inking chamber, with the second passage at a lower level than the first passage when the chambered doctor blade is positioned to engage with the screen roll.  
     
     
       3. A detachable inking device as described in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second support arms include seals which engage with the chambered doctor blade. 
     
     
       4. A detachable inking device as described in  claim 1 , further including a disconnect mechanism which is manually operable without assistance of a tool to release the chambered doctor blade from the support assembly. 
     
     
       5. A detachable inking device as described in  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the support assembly further includes ink inlet and outlet passages respectively connectable to supply and return lines from an ink reservoir;  
       the chambered doctor blade body includes first and second passages respectively aligned with the ink inlet and outlet passages in the support arms, and which open into the inking chamber, with the second passage at a lower level than the first passage when the chambered doctor blade is positioned to engage with the screen roll; and  
       further including a sealing structure between the support assembly and the chambered doctor blade.  
     
     
       6. A detachable inking device as described in  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the end faces of the lip portions are outwardly slanted; and  
       the first and second doctor blade elements are further held in place at their respective ends by flanges extending from the end pieces and overlying the ends of the doctor blade elements.  
     
     
       7. A detachable inking device as described in  claim 1 , wherein the end pieces are